Italy’s referendums on citizenship and labour sunk by low turnout
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Italy’s referendums on citizenship and labour sunk by low turnout
Italian referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and tighten job protection rules failed on Monday due to low voter turnout. Official data from about half of the polling stations showed slightly less than 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballots at the end of two days of voting. The outcome is a blow for the coalition of centre-left opposition parties, civil society groups and the CGIL trade union behind the referendum questions. It is a win for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who strongly opposed them and encouraged her supporters to boycott the vote. The prime minister visited a polling station in Rome on Sunday but did not cast a vote, a tactic she had indicated that she would adopt. The other four referendum questions concerned a reversal of labour market liberalisations introduced a decade ago, and a broadening of liability rules on accidents at work.
A person holds ballot papers during a referendum on employment and Italian citizenship at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella
Five Stars Movement leader Giuseppe Conte stands at a polling station, during a referendum on employment and Italian citizenship at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella
People prepare to vote during a referendum on employment and Italian citizenship at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella
A person votes during a referendum on employment and Italian citizenship at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella
ROME – Italian referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and tighten job protection rules failed on Monday due to low voter turnout, YouTrend polling agency said, in a setback for the centre-left opposition and unions that had championed them.
Official data from about half of the polling stations showed slightly less than 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballots at the end of two days of voting, far short of the 50% plus one of the electorate needed to make the vote legally binding.
The outcome is a blow for the coalition of centre-left opposition parties, civil society groups and the CGIL trade union behind the referendum questions, and a win for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who strongly opposed them.
Meloni and her right-wing allies encouraged their supporters to boycott the vote. The prime minister visited a polling station in Rome on Sunday but did not cast a vote, a tactic she had indicated that she would adopt.
Opposition forces had hoped that latching on to the issues of labour rights and Italy’s demographic woes could help them challenge Meloni, something they have struggled to do since she came to power in 2022.
“The opposition wanted to turn the referendum into a vote on the Meloni government. The response is very clear: the government emerges from this stronger and the opposition is weaker”, said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and a close aide to Meloni.
LOW TURNOUT
One of the five referendums was about reducing the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalisation to five years from 10 years, which according to organisers would have affected about 2.5 million people.
In a country suffering a sharp decline in the birth rate, some economists believe attracting more foreigners is vital to boosting an anaemic economy, while rights groups campaigned for a “Yes” vote to promote the integration of migrant workers.
The other four referendum questions concerned a reversal of labour market liberalisations introduced a decade ago, and a broadening of liability rules on accidents at work for companies relying on contractors and subcontractors.
“Whether just above 30% or just below 30%, this is a low figure, below the expectations and targets set by the promoters,” YouTrend’s Lorenzo Pregliasco told Italian news channel SkyTG24.
According to data analysis late on Sunday by the YouTrend polling agency, turnout was higher in wealthier northern and central regions and in larger cities, and lower in the less developed south.
A higher turnout was also observed in areas where leftist parties performed well in the last general elections and in the 2024 European elections, YouTrend said. REUTERS
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Italy: Low turnout sinks citizenship, labor referendums – DW – 06
Italian citizenship and labor reform referendums look likely to fail due to low voter turnout. Only about 30% of Italy’s 51 million eligible voters had turned out to cast ballots. The result is seen as a major victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who vehemently opposed the measures. Poll observers said voter participation numbers were well ‘below the expectations and targets set by the promoters’ The opposition wanted to turn this into a referendum on the Meloni government, said Cabinet undersecretary and Meloni ally Giovanbattista Fazzolari.
Italian citizenship and labor reform referendums look likely to fail due to low voter turnout.
As two-day voting wound down in Europe’s fourth-largest economy only about 30% of Italy’s 51 million eligible voters had turned out to cast ballots in five referendums championed by center-left opposition groups as well as the country’s labor unions.
Referendums require 50% plus one voter participation to be legally binding in Italy.
The result is seen as a major victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who vehemently opposed the measures.
Meloni arrived at a Rome polling station on Sunday — when turnout was 22% — to declare that she would not cast a vote.
Meloni then once-again encouraged her supporters to likewise boycott the ballot.
Poll observers said voter participation numbers were well ‘below the expectations and targets set by the promoters’ Image: Matteo Minnella/REUTERS
What were Italy’s referendums about?
Four of the referendums centered on workplace protections including better protections against firing, increased severance pay, unemployment benefits, the end of fixed-term contracts and better workplace accident compensation.
A fifth referendum addressed whether voters wanted to ease citizenship laws in the country, allowing non-EU immigrants to apply for Italian passports after five rather than the current 10 years.
At the moment, the rule would apply to roughly 2.5 million non-EU immigrants.
Arguments for easing citizenship requirements were driven by the demographic fact of Italy’s dwindling birth rates and calls for better integrating foreign workers in an effort to boost the country’s economy.
Data compiled by the polling organization YouTrend said voter turnout was higher in the country’s industrialized north than the agricultural south, as well in cities and in areas where left-leaning parties preformed best in Italy’s most recent general and EU elections.
“The opposition wanted to turn this into a referendum on the Meloni government,” said Cabinet undersecretary and Meloni ally Giovanbattista Fazzolari. “The response is very clear: The government emerges from this stronger and the opposition weaker.”
Speaking of the vote’s failure, YouTrend’s Lorenzo Pregliasco said, “Whether just above 30% or just below, this is a low figure… below the expectations and targets set by the promoters.”
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Low turnout thwarts Italian referendums, deals blow to opposition
Only around 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballots at the end of two days of voting, far short of the 50% plus one of the electorate needed to make the vote legally binding. The outcome is a blow for the coalition of centre-left opposition parties, civil society groups and the CGIL trade union. It is a win for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who strongly opposed the referendum questions. The prime minister visited a polling station in Rome on Sunday but opted not to cast a vote. According to initial figures around 35% of voters were against easing the citizenship requirements, indicating the “No” vote could be much higher than in the other questions where the “Yes” looked poised for a very strong majority.
Item 1 of 5 A person votes during a referendum on employment and Italian citizenship at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella
Summary Required quorum not achieved on all five referendum questions
Meloni’s coalition says government now stronger
Failed referendums deal blow for divided centre-left opposition
ROME, June 9 (Reuters) – Low voter turnout on Monday sank Italian opposition referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and tighten job protection rules, with senior figures in the coalition of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying the outcome boosted the government.
Near-final data from polling stations in Italy showed only around 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballots at the end of two days of voting, far short of the 50% plus one of the electorate needed to make the vote legally binding.
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The outcome – which will be final once votes from Italians living abroad are counted – is a blow for the coalition of centre-left opposition parties, civil society groups and the CGIL trade union behind the referendum questions, and a win for Meloni who strongly opposed them.
“The opposition wanted to turn the referendum into a vote on the Meloni government. The response is very clear: the government emerges from this stronger and the left is weaker,” said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and a close aide to Meloni.
Meloni and her right-wing allies encouraged their supporters to boycott the vote. The prime minister visited a polling station in Rome on Sunday but opted not to cast a vote.
Opposition forces had hoped that latching on to the issues of labour rights and Italy’s demographic woes could help them challenge Meloni, something they have struggled to do since she came to power in 2022.
“Our goal was to reach a quorum, it is clear that we did not reach it. Today is not a day of victory,” said CGIL union leader Maurizio Landini, who added millions of Italians went to vote and that was “a starting number” to keep fighting for change.
CITIZENSHIP ISSUE PROVES DIVISIVE
One of the five referendums was about reducing the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalisation to five years from 10 years, which according to organisers would have affected about 2.5 million people.
In a country suffering a sharp decline in the birth rate, some economists believe attracting more foreigners is vital to boosting an anaemic economy, while rights groups campaigned for a “Yes” vote to promote the integration of migrant workers.
According to initial figures around 35% of voters were against easing the citizenship requirements, indicating the “No” vote could be much higher than in the other questions where the “Yes” looked poised for a very strong majority.
The other four referendum questions concerned a reversal of labour market liberalisations introduced a decade ago, and a broadening of liability rules on accidents at work for companies relying on contractors and subcontractors.
Reporting by Angelo Amante and Alvise Armellini Writing by Keith Weir and Angelo Amante; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Keith Weir, William Maclean
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Italians vote on citizenship, labor reform, but low turnout may sink referendum
Italians are heading to the polls Monday on the second day of referendums that would make it easier for children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship. But partial data showed a low turnout, well below the required 50% plus one threshold, risking to invalidate the vote. The new rules, if passed, could affect about 2.5 million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognized as citizens. The measures were proposed by Italy’s main union and left-wing opposition parties.. Turnout projections were even weaker for a vote scheduled for the first weekend of. Italy’s school holidays, at around 35% of around 50 million electors, wellbelow the required quorum. It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment and freedom of movement within the EU.. The referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention, said Lorenzo Pregliasco, political analyst and pollster at YouTrend.
A woman casts her ballots on referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Rome, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
A woman casts her ballots on referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Rome, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
A woman casts her ballots on referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Rome, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
A woman casts her ballots on referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Rome, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
ROME — Italians headed to the polls Monday on the second and final day of referendums that would make it easier for children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship, and on providing more job protections. But partial data showed a low turnout, well below the required 50% plus one threshold, risking to invalidate the vote.
Campaigners for the change in the citizenship law say it will help second-generation Italians born in the country to non- European Union parents better integrate into a culture they already see as theirs.
Partial data from Italy’s Interior Ministry published at 2100 GMT on Sunday showed that national turnout stood at 22.7%, just over half of the 41% registered at the same time of the day in the latest comparable referendum held in 2011. The polling stations close later Monday at 1300 GMT.
The new rules, if passed, could affect about 2.5 million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognized as citizens.
The measures were proposed by Italy’s main union and left-wing opposition parties. Premier Giorgia Meloni showed up at the polls on Sunday evening but didn’t cast a ballot — an action widely criticized by the left as antidemocratic, since it won’t contribute to reaching the necessary threshold to make the vote valid.
“While some members of her ruling coalition have openly called for abstention, Meloni has opted for a more subtle approach,“ said analyst Wolfango Piccoli of the Teneo consultancy based in London. ”It’s yet another example of her trademark fence-sitting.’’
Supporters say this reform would bring Italy’s citizenship law in line with many other European countries, promoting greater social integration for long-term residents. It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment and freedom of movement within the EU.
“The real drama is that neither people who will vote ‘yes’ nor those who intend to vote ‘no’ or abstain have an idea of what (an) ordeal children born from foreigners have to face in this country to obtain a residence permit,” said Selam Tesfaye, an activist and campaigner with the Milan-based human rights group Il Cantiere.
Activists and opposition parties also denounced the lack of public debate on the measures, accusing the governing center-right coalition of trying to dampen interest in sensitive issues that directly impact immigrants and workers.
In May, Italy’s AGCOM communications authority lodged a complaint against RAI state television and other broadcasters over a lack of adequate and balanced coverage.
Opinion polls published in mid-May showed that only 46% of Italians were aware of the issues driving the referendums. Turnout projections were even weaker for a vote scheduled for the first weekend of Italy’s school holidays, at around 35% of around 50 million electors, well below the required quorum.
“Many believe that the referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention (that) emerged in recent elections and the turnout threshold should be lowered,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, political analyst and pollster at YouTrend.
Some analysts note, however, that the center-left opposition could claim a victory even if the referendum fails on condition that the turnout surpasses the 12.3 million voters who backed the winning center-right coalition in the 2022 general election.
Italy’s ‘referendum weekend’ at risk amid expected low turnout
Voters will go to the polls in five referendums this weekend. Only 28% of those surveyed said they would vote. The government has urged voters to abstain from voting. The opposition has accused the government of trying to stifle the vote by encouraging voters to stay away. The vote will decide whether Italy stays within the European Union’s rules on naturalisation. The referendum will also decide whether or not to extend the right to work in the EU to all citizens of Italy, not just citizens of the EU-member state of Bologna. The European Commission is expected to announce its decision in the next few days. The EU has said it will not allow non-EU citizens to work outside the EU for up to five years.
This weekend, Italians can vote in five rather technical referendums covering issues ranging from labour rights to citizenship. But low public awareness and poor turnout projections threaten to sink them – a result the government may be quietly banking on, having urged abstention instead of a clear “No” vote.
A mid-May Demopolis poll found just 46% of Italians were aware of the referendums, while Ipsos put the figure at a slightly higher 62%. Turnout projections are even bleaker: Just 30% of Demopolis respondents said they planned to vote, while only 28% of Ipsos respondents said they were certain to cast a ballot.
The lack of visibility prompted Italy’s communications authority AGCOM to issue a formal warning on 13 May to RAI and other broadcasters for failing to provide adequate and impartial coverage.
Technical and lacking emotional weight
Adding to the challenge is the technical nature of the referendums, which lack the emotional pull of past landmark votes on issues like divorce or nuclear energy.
Four of the five questions focus on labour law, ranging from reinstating unfairly dismissed workers and removing compensation caps in small firms, to curbing fixed-term contract abuse and restoring joint liability for workplace injuries.
The fifth and most prominent referendum proposes reducing the residency requirement for non-EU citizens applying for Italian citizenship from 10 to five years. This would bring Italy closer to countries such as France and Germany, and address its current position as one of the EU’s most restrictive countries regarding naturalisation.
Calculated silence?
What has drawn even more criticism than the content of the referendums is the government’s approach. The right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia has taken the unusual step of encouraging abstention rather than openly campaigning for a “No” vote.
On 2 June, Meloni announced that she would go to the polling station but not collect her ballot papers – an act that counts as abstention and does not contribute to the quorum. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani defended it as “political abstentionism”, saying voters who oppose the referendums have no duty to boost turnout.
Opposition parties and referendum supporters have condemned this tactic as anti-democratic, accusing the government of trying to stifle debate and evade accountability on issues that directly impact workers and immigrants.
In response, opposition parties have launched campaigns urging voters to support the referendums. The Five Star Movement, also in opposition, has adopted a more neutral position on the question of citizenship, allowing its supporters to decide for themselves.
With the weekend looming, the real contest isn’t about whether the referendums will pass or fail – it’s about turnout. If too few voters show up, the referendums won’t just stumble – they’ll be dismissed before the count even begins.